Picture-projection process and apparatus



April 'i, 1925 1,582,179

. .L LEVY PICTURE PROJECTION PROCESS AND APPARATUS Filed July 9, 1924 @Zlfeph Leg Patented Apr. 27, 1 926.

umren stares rarest JGSEPI-I LEVY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, T0 DISPLAY STAGE LIGHTING CO. INC., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PICTURE-PROJECTEQN PROCESS AND APPARATUS.

Application filed July 9,

T 0 all 20710772 it may concern.

Be it known that JOSEPH LEVY, citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Picture-Projection Processes and Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to picture pro ection processes and apparatus therefor.

It is desirable for theatrical or the like purposes to produce by optical meansthe effect of sky writing, that is the writing which is now made by means of a stream of smoke emitted from a moving aeroplance guided so as to write or outline any desired symbol or word in the sky, and this invention has for one of its objects the provision of a simple, practical and efficient apparatus and process for effectively and realistically producing by projection on a screen the effeet on the eye of sky writing.

While the invention is described herein with reference particularly to the projection of such sky writing effect, itnevertheless is directed more generally to the provision of a process and apparatus for progressively projecting a legend, drawing, or symbol on a screen, and then gradually obliterating the same so as to produce the fading effect, which process and apparatus shall be adaptcd to be employed readily in connection and co-operation with optical projecting appara tus.

A further object of the invention is to provide in projecting apparatus a projecting slide adapted to project upon the screen a progressive legend, design or other desired symbol.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction herein f er scr d nd of Whichthe sc pe of 1924. Serial No. 724,929.

application will be indicated in the following claims.

In theaccompanyimg drawing, in which is shown one of the various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing an arrangement of the device and projecting apparatus as employed in carrying out the invention i Fig. 2 is a perspective View of a progressive drawing device made in accordance with this invention showing the lettering partially uncovered; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the obliterating extension slide.

Referring in detail to the drawing, Fig. 1 shows diagrammatically the parts of a proj ection apparatus comprising a suitable light source 10, a reflector 11, a condensing lens 12, and an objectivelens 13. These parts may be of the usual standard construction and arranged as shown in their usual rela tive position. 14 indicates the project-ion slide embodying this invention, interposed preferably between the lenses 12 and 13; and 15, an obliterating extension slide positioned preferably in the path of the projected light emitted from lens 13. The projection slide 14 it will be'understood is mounted in position in the projection apparatus being inserted in the usual manner as the ordinary lantern slide.

As shown in Fig. 2, projection slide 14: comprises a slide-plate 16 formed of any suitable opaque material, preferably ofsheet metal, composition, or other like suitable material, and a winding shaft 1'? mounted for rotation on said plate in bearing supports 18 which extend forwardly from the upper edge thereof. Means'for turning the shaft 17 is provided which for simplicity may be in the form of a crank handle 19 bent from an extended portion of shaft 17. A guiding bracket 20, the purpose whereof will hereinafter appear, issecured to plate 16 'so'as to extend out from and lengthwise of. the lower port-ion thereof, said bracket being preterably formed rom a round rod.

The slide plate 16 hears the desi or other symbols 21. jocted on the screen. the drawing, the latter comprises words Display plate 16 as'illustrated in The stencilled cut-out ot the symbol 21 are norma Fig. 2.

a continuous thread 22 of cotton,

gn, legend to be progressively pio- In the form shown in the script which stencil-cut in the letter portions 21 lly occupied by silk, or

the like material, preferably inserted by working the thread 22 into said cut-out portions starting at the extreme end 01 the symbol 21, in this case the latter irressively worknng; the thread 22 backward ly until all the said cut-out spaces are tilled.

The leat ting end portion of thread is then passed under and in front of guiding bracket 20, and then upwardly to winding shaft 1'? where it is the spaced apertures ably the one in alignment with or right of the beginning of the being most convenient. To insu the lettering light-proof,

secured in any 23 in shalt 17,

one of preterjust to the nbol'2l as re making a coating oi lamp black or similar material may be applied over the filled in lettering.

The obliterating extension plate frame 2% former.

opaque material, as

slide 15 has a of any suitable sheet metal, wood or the like with a circular opening therein corresponding to the size or the obj 14. The side edges 2% of frame turned to serve as guides tor an o ective lens 2 t are mblitcrating men'iber 26, the latter being mounted for The operation of the apparatus said itrame to form an area over the said termed 0t ss or other like semi-translucent 't incomplete obliteration is deopelling and repelling means sliding movement of memas for example screw end whereot' is in co-operative piece 28 on member 26 The screw 1'? member 29 fixedly 4t, and means is provided torm ot a end of the and one example of carrying out the process embodying the invention the progressive appearance ot as tollows: To project a design legend or symbol on a screen, from the front thereof, as t'or instance to imitate writing, the extension slide 15 entire openings ther inserted over the front of jection apparatus, and the mounted between lens 12 and 13 Fig. l the slide-plate 16' being sky with the in unobstructed is lens 13 ot the pro device let as shown first tilled site with the thread and rendered light proof as explained above. Since the device 14. intercepts the light coming through lens 12, nothing will now be projected on a screen (not shown). However, on slowly turning crank handle 19, the thread 22 is removed from the cut out portions of symbol 21 and wound on shaft 17. in Fig. 2 the thread 22 is shown partially removed from the cut-out lettering. proceeds the wort Display is progressively uncovered projected and shown on the screen just as it would be done in the actual sky writing operation.

Before the letter L is reached in the above operation, crank handle ot the slide 15 may be rotated to cause member 26 to gradually slide over and cover the opening 25. thus gradually obliterating the projected symbol with a "fading vague cloudy etlect similar to the gradual fading away out sky writing. Thus the entire eti'ect ot sky writing is reproduced in projected picture on the screen beginning with the progressive projection of the configuration on device'l l on the screen and ending with the gradual obliteration or tading thereof by operation ot slide 15. To give a more natural effect, theresults oi the above described 0 aeration may be superimposed on a sky scene as a background projected on the screen in the well known manner.

The process and devices described above may also be utilized in producing other novel stage an d the like effects.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achiev d and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments u'iight be made of the above i vention and as arious changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein settorth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustiiative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:-

1. In a projection apparatus, a projection slide comprising a plate having a symbol cut tl'ierethrough a thread occupying the cut out portions of said plate, and means for progressively withdrawing said thread.

2. in a projection apparatus, a projection slide comprising a plate having a symbol cut tacrethrough, a thread occupying the cut-out portions of said plate. and a winding means mounted. on the plate tor progrcs 'SlvQlf. withdrawing said thread.

3. In a projection apparatus, a projection slide comprising a plate having a symbol cut therethrough, thread occupying the cut-out its the winding of the thread 22 portions of said plate, and means for progressively withdrawing said thread, said means including a bracket for guiding the thread and a winding means.

i. In a projection apparatus, a projection slide comprising an opaque plate having a "*"symbol stencil-cuttherethrough, a thread worked into the cut-out portions of said plate, means for light proofing the filled-in l0 portions of said drawing, and means for progressively removing the thread.

5. In combination, a projection apparatus and projection slide inserted therein comprising a plate having a symbol out therethrough, a thread occupying the cut-out portions of said plate, and means for progressively withdrawing said thread.

6. In con'ibination, a projection apparatus having a lens, a projection slide insertable therein comprising a plate having a symbol cut therethrough, a thread occupying the cut-out portions of said plate, and means for progressively withdrawing said thread, and an obliterating slide comprising a frame having an opening therein adapted to perll'llt unobstructed passage of the light from the lens and a member mounted for sliding movement on the frame relative to the open ing to form an obstruction to the passage of 39 light therethrough, said frame having means for guiding and supporting said member.

7. In combination, a projection apparatus having lens, a projection slide insertable therein comprising an opaque plate having a symbol stencil-cut therethrough, a thread worked into the cut-out portions of said plate, means for light proofing the filled-in portions for the drawing, and means for progressively removing the thread, and an obliterating slide comprising a frame having an opening therein adapted to permit unobstructed passage of the light from the lens, and a ripple-glass plate mounted for sliding movement on the frame relative to the opening to form an obstruction to the passage of light therethrough and adapted to cause a fading effect to any image projected therethrough.

8. In a projection apparatus, a projection slide comprising an opaque plate having a symbol stencil-cut therethrough, and rcmovable means positioned in said stcncil-cut portions for light proofing.

9. In a projection apparatus, a projection s ide comprising an opaque plate having a symbol stencil-cut therethrough, and means positioned in said stencil-cut portions for light proofing the plate, and means for progressively removing said light proofing means.

10. The art of reproducing the progressive appearance of a symbol on a screen which comprises projecting a light on an opaque body having a removable portlon constituting said symbol, said portion perm tting the passage of the light through said body after removal therefrom, and gradually removing said portion to progressively project-the image of the symbol on the screen.

11. The art of reproducing the progressive appearance of a symbol on a. screen which comprises project-ing a light on an opaque body having a removable portion constituting said symbol, said portion permitting the passage of the light through said body after removal therefrom, and gradually removing said portion to progressively project the image of the symbol on the screen, and obliterating portions of the said image.

12. The art of projecting the progressive appearance of a symbol on a screen which comprises arranging a transparent symbol on an opaque plate, covering only the transparent symbol with a removable material to form a light proof body, inserting the body into the path of light beams from a project ing apparatus, and gradually withdrawing the removable material from said body to progressively permit the passage of light through the symbol on the plate to the screen.

i 13. The art of reproducing the progressive appearance of a symbol and obliteration thereof on a screen which comprises projecting a light on an opaque body having a removable portion constituting said symbol said portion permitting the passage of the light through said body after removal therefrom, gradually removing said portion to progressively project the image of the symbol, and interposing a semi-translucent slide in thepath of the light beams passing through the drawing to cause the projected image thereof to gradually fade.

14. The art of reproducing sky writing effect projected on a screen which comprises forming a writing of transparent lettering, by stencil-cutting through an opaque plate, working a thread into the cut-out portions to make the plate light proof, interposing the plate in the path of light beams from a projecting appartus and gradually withdrawing the thread from the lettering to progressively permit the passageof the light to a screen.

lb. The art of projecting the progressive appearance of a drawing on a screen which comprises arranging a transparent drawing on an opaque plate, covering, the drawing with a removable material to form a lightproof body, inserting the body into the path of light beams from a projecting apparatus, and gradually withdrawing the material from said body to progressively permit the passage of light through the drawing on the plate, and interposing a ripple-glass slide in the path of the light beams passing through an uncovered portion of the lettering to cause the projected image thereof to have a fading effect,

ing, and progressively removing said opaque portion to permit the passage of the light so that the image of the Writing is gradual- 1y projected on the screen superimposed on said projected sky scene.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature.

JOSEPH EVY.-

16. The art of reproducing sky Writing jefljects projected on a screen which consists in projecting a sky scene on the screen to serve as a background, and causing the progressive appearance of a Writing on said screen by projecting a light on a body having a removable opaque portion covering a transparent portion constituting said Writ- 

